A Staffordshire social enterprise at the forefront of youth training in the county is now leading the way nationally as part of a high-profile Government work pairing trial.

PM Training - part of the Aspire Group - helps tackle worklessness among young people and provides training and employment opportunities for more than 1,000 people a year. 

The Stoke-on-Trent-based social enterprise is now leading Staffordshire's trial of the work pairing initiative, which is one of just five such trials in England. The scheme was launched in conjunction with Newcastle Borough Council and with the support of the Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Local Enterprise Partnership.

Work pairing is where young people are partnered with a mentor at a local business or sole trader, in work placements of up to 10 weeks. 

The Government hopes that if the trials are successful in Staffordshire, up to 50,000 work pairing placements - that could lead to full-time jobs for the trainees - could be rolled out across the UK.

Will Nixon, chief executive of PM Training, explained: "Work pairing is like a pre-apprenticeship. It helps young people become work-ready and offers real work experience, hopefully leading onto an apprenticeship or full-time job.

"The idea originated in Scotland and we're looking to adapt the work pairing scheme around our already successful training model - offering some exciting employment opportunities for the people of Staffordshire.

"On top of this, it's a prestigious trial that only a handful of companies have been chosen to take part in. It's a real feather in the cap for PM Training and The Aspire Group that we have been selected and it's recognition of the excellent work we do."

The move is also a clear example of social enterprise working in partnership with the new Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).

Cllr. Robin Studd, Newcastle Borough Council Cabinet member for regeneration and planning, said: "It's a great achievement to be selected for these national trials - I'm delighted!

"PM Training provides a great service by encouraging many young people into the world of work and giving them the chance to undergo accredited training."

As a training provider, PM Training's track record of progression rates onto apprenticeship schemes is the highest in Staffordshire and among the highest in the UK for a social enterprise organisation. Around 70% of trainees positively progress through its skills programmes and 95% of these go onto full-time Apprenticeships.

The work pairing initiative first appeared in the Conservative Party manifesto in the run up to the election and has since become part of the Coalition government's Core Work Programme, entitled 'Getting Britain Working'. 

PM Training was invited to a Department of Education round table discussion last year and, after several meetings, the training provider was asked to lead a local trial, which is also being supported by Newcastle Borough Council and the Local Enterprise Partnership. Four other similar trials are being rolled out around the country.

PM Training will report its findings to the Department of Education after its conclusion.